In 2019, air quality was again put into spotlight in the public sphere and policy discussions all over Europe. One important process was the official review of the two EU Ambient Air Quality Directives (AAQDs), two legislations that regulate the presence of five pollutants in the air and how public authorities collect and inform about their presence. EFA engaged in the process as a participant but also as a source of information representing allergy, asthma and COPD patients in Europe. We conveyed that while both directives have been partially effective, they do not fully protect our respiratory health. Therefore we reiterated in written and orally during the European Commission workshops that the AAQDs would need to (1) align with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (2) include biological particles such as pollen into future policies, and (3) ensure better access to real-time information on air quality.

That forward looking approach came through a European Parliament motion for a resolution ‘Clean Air for All: A Europe that Protects’.  Adopted in March, the resolution frames the way towards better regulating the #AirWeBreathe, including indoors, and through a hard-sought EFA request to establish a compulsory indoor air quality certificate for all new and renovated buildings (#IAQCertificate).

At global level, EFA also took part in a call for comments to the “Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Wellbeing” organised by WHO. We stressed the need to generate more knowledge on the impact of air quality on human health as well as the reinforcement of the European Environment and Health process.